Revenue’s cyber security job vacant for last year

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The chairman of a Senate panel investigating the exposure of taxpayers’ personal data says he’s upset to learn that a $25,000 purchase could have prevented the hacking.

Anderson Sen. Kevin Bryant also thinks the agency’s lack of a computer security officer is partially to blame for the breach.

Revenue Director Jim Etter told the panel Wednesday the position was vacant from September 2011 through August. That’s the month a hacker gained access to the agency’s system.

Etter says the former chief information officer could not find anyone willing to accept the job for $100,000.

The agency is spending $25,000 on devices that add another security step for someone trying to log into the system remotely.

Officials say the devices providing temporary passwords could have prevented the incident.